Will My Amaryllis Bloom If Leaves Are Growing First?
Native to northern South America, amaryllis (Hippeastrum spp.) is a flower bulb that naturally blooms in the spring but is easy to force into blooming during the winter holidays. It is grown outdoors in the garden in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 8 and warmer. Does this Spark an idea?
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Features
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Amaryllis naturally grows its long strap-like leaves from spring until fall, gathering light and making food for the bulb. In autumn, the foliage dies back from drought or chilly temperatures. Several weeks later it breaks its dormancy by sending up its flower stalk, followed slowly by more leaves. The bulb creates its flower bulb by early fall and rests deep inside the bulb neck.
Time Frame
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The fall to winter resting period for the amaryllis ideally is with dry soil and temperatures around 55 degrees Fahrenheit; leaves may persist. In colder temperatures, leaves die. Depending on species or cultivar, the dormancy lasts eight to 12 weeks before the flower bud stalk emerges from the bulb--not always alongside new leaf growth.
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Considerations
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An amaryllis bulb that breaks its winter dry-soil dormancy by producing only leaves likely didn't produce enough food over the last summer and forms a premature bud inside the bulb. While leaves emerging and no flower stalk doesn't absolutely mean no flower will occur, it suggests the previous year's growth wasn't receiving enough light or the winter dormancy wasn't cool enough or soil dry enough. Time will tell.
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References
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- Photo Credit white&red rich flowers of amaryllis image by Maria Brzostowska from Fotolia.com
